HOSSEIN KAZEMI, CFA

Dr. Hossein Kazemi, Ph.D., CFA, is the Senior Advisor to the CAIA Association’s Program and the FDP Institute. He helps with the development of the CAIA program's curriculum, directs the CAIA Association’s academic partnership program, and leads the curriculum development of the FDP Institute.. In addition he serves as the editor of Alternative Investment Analyst Review, which is published by the CAIA Association. Dr. Kazemi has been involved in the CAIA Association since inception as a senior adviser and board member. In addition, he has worked with universities and industry organizations to introduce them to the CAIA program. Dr. Kazemi is a Professor of Finance at the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Kazemi is currently the Director of the Center for International Securities & Derivatives Markets, a nonprofit organization devoted to research in the area of alternative investments, a co-founder of the CAIA Association, and home to CISDM Hedge Fund/CTA Database and the Journal of Alternative Investments, the official research publication of the CAIA Association. His research has been in the areas of valuations of equity and fixed income securities, asset allocation for traditional and alternative asset classes, and evaluation and replication of active management investment products. He has a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Michigan. Dr. Kazemi lives in Northampton, MA, with his wife.

KIM DURAND 

Kim is the Project & General Operations Manager at the FDP Institute, leading operations, and owning the master project plan for program implementation. Kim comes to us with a history in management and administration in the telecommunications and millimeter wave technology industries.  Kim served as Director of Operations, Director of Sales and Senior Sales Executive at Normandeau Technologies, a privately held provider of telecommunications equipment and services.  Previously Kim was Project Manager and Sales Coordinator for Telaxis Communications (formerly Millitech Corporation), a publicly held millimeter wave designer and equipment manufacturer for broadband wireless access market. Most recently Kim served as Manager of Special Projects and Executive Assistant at CAIA Association, managing high-level international projects throughout the association while supporting the CEO, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Kim has a Bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University and is an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary and Riders.